DC and Surrounding Area Restaurants

Tosca in Old Town is very good and they give you so much food.

Hubby and I love Angeethi in Herndon if you don't mind venturing out of the District. It's incredible Indian food and has one of the best buffets I have ever experienced.

Hmmm, I'll have to give Angeethi a shot next time I'm in town...never heard of it until now...

Trust me you will love Angeethi. Try it on a weekend for the buffet which is out of this world for taste and selection. God I wish I was there now...drooling....

They're also in Leesburg and Winchester VA

I tried out the new Hill Country between NCAA tournament sessions today. Enjoyed the moist brisket ($22.00/pound) a lot, but some may find it too salty. Brisket came with choice of bread (two slices) or crackers. Bread was good quality as industrial white broad products go and went well with the brisket. Jalapeno cheese sausage ($6.25) was nice, not terribly spicy. Mac and cheese ($5.00 for 8 oz, the price per ounce may decline at larger sizes) was standard BBQ restaurant quality. Beer was expensive, $6 for bottles of Shiner or Dos Equis, other options were $4 or $5.

When you enter the restaurant they give you a "meal ticket", and when you order in the "market" section of the restaurant you hand them the ticket and they place a bar code sticker on it. As you leave you hand the meal ticket to the cashier and they scan the bar codes and you pay. This took some explaining from the people at the front desk, and as a result there was a line out the door at the entrance even when the restaurant was largely empty.

Overall I was pleased and will certainly return.

Restaurant Eve - Bistro...went for drinks and the cheese plate. Very reasonable price for the cheese, bread, and jams. Decent selection of cheese, great breads, and outstanding service. Were eventually going to eat at the restaurant...

Ok it sounds like folks are missing out on some real food
1. Any of the Five Guys for a burger. [although I ate at Ollie's Trolley tonight - go figure]
2. Hot dogs out at the Vienna Inn
3. The corned beef sandwich at Harry's
4. An egg and cheese sandwich or 2 at the Tune Inn [don't fall for any of the diners, dives and drive-ins crap]
5. The Vietnamese place around the corner/across the street from the Hyatt Place South
6. Most anything at the McLean Family Restaurant - actually in that direct area there is also McLean Pizza and Rocco's Italian Restaurant [go for the all you can eat night]

This echoes my experiences at the downtown DC branch and elsewhere. They're almost like a steakhouse specializing in fish, with large servings of high quality but generally simply-prepared food, frequently expensive for what it is, with noise and bare wood tables.

DC:

Lauriol Plaza, 18th & T NW was, is and always will be the mid-DC favorite.

Commissary, 1400 block P has been the local organic favorite for past couple years.

Estilio, 14th & Church NW is the current new "hot" spot .

All 3 have low prices and incredible food and service plus great weekend brunches.

Cork at 14th & S is the "hot" "in" higher price, long reservation place. It has a very exclusive wine/cheese shop across the street.

1. Five Guys burgers are good, but Ray's I find to be better (depends on the type of burger man you are).
2. Vienna Inn - not too impressed here.
3. Not had it, will try it next time I'm in town.
4. Will try as well.
5. Hmmm, not sure where this is, is this in Chantilly?
6. I've actually not been impressed with McLean Family Restaurant. It's a decent joint, but nothing super. I've also not had great experiences at Rocco's or McLean Pizza (lived in McLean for over 20 years).

That's exactly what Oceanaire is. Which, IMHO, has its place. Not the greatest restaurant for sure. But this isn't inherently a bad thing.

It's a fun outdoor atmosphere but I find the food inedible.

Can we get some restaurants listed here specializing in seafood. I liked Oceanaire, but if there is a better place to eat I want to go.

Sam Pho on the 1100 block of King street has good Thai food and is a few blocks from the house!
Any Thai places you guys recommend?

1. Elephant Jumps in Merrifield
2. Thai Xing downtown
3. Crystal Thai, I think it's Falls Church

I've heard good things about Nava Thai in Wheaton but haven't been.

And if you want really authentic, for a Thai audience, try Duangrat’s Oriental Food Mart around the corner from Duangrat's...

With really good martinis

Is Ray's really that good?

And the Vietnamese place is in Chantilly on the backside of the hotel across the turn off street near the post office. I found it on a FFN mattress run and go whenever I "stay" out there

yes. A class above any fast-food burger. This is a real joint, and you can taste the difference fresh ground meat and superior grade toppings make.

I might try it next time I visit my local liquor store which just happens to be a door or two down from Ray's

Don't forget to report back!

I had put up earlier in the thread, but Bangkok54 has good food and modern decor.

I'd suggest you try Thai Square, 3 blocks away...

Still a bit partial to Thai Tanic. Was an idine last time I went.

And of course U-Topia (still there?)

My favorites in the District are:

Makoto 4822 MacArthur Boulevard NW I love it dearly, and go there every time I am in DC. It is one of the best Japanese restaurants in the US IMO

NORA has been a favorite for some years. Everything is organic, preparations are delectible
http://www.noras.com/

I haven't been to Nora's for years, but love Makato . And also Kotobuki, upstairs from Makato---inexpensive sushi done right!

Is there a good Japanese noodle place around DC? Something similar to Udon West on St Marks in NYC or better any of the lunch counter-ish places in Tokyo

Thanks